The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on March 24, 2013, 09:22:53 am
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Does anyone else have trouble cutting through horn? I spend my life trimming adult nails so shouldn't be too different. I have a green pair of nippers for the sheep but they wouldn't touch goat feet, presumed blunt and I am rubbish at sharpening. Got a pair of Net Tex hoof rot shears with one edge serrated but still like cutting through concrete.
Tried nibbling rather than taking big strips but still almost beyond my tough little hands.
Advice appreciated. Also is there an easy way to do back feet? Mine kick like mules! Stood well for treats yesterday while I did front feet but not a hope with back and even if held I can't stop them kicking. I don't really want to turn over. Might try tying them up with bucket of chaff and see if that works.
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I have trouble with some of mine, but only the ones who are prone to laminitis, as makes their hooves like concrete! If they are out in the field getting their feet damp, it helps make the feet softer. You could also try making them stand with their foot in a bucket of warm water to soften them a bit. Used to do that with my billy as he had such big feet and quite hard hooves (but not laminitic thank god).
Back feet- it's always easier for them to kick! I tie ours up at the head, and have them alongside something, a hurdle, wall etc. then I position myself so they can't swing about, and they do move less. Even so they can still kick. Sorry, that's probably not much help!
Beth
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I had some of the ones with one serrated side and didn't get on with them, too large and hurt my wrist. I use a pair from countrywide now, white ones that I think are meant for lambs (!) but they do fine.
Back hooves I trim like Beth, anchor front end and face the back, lean my hip into the side of the goat and lift back hoof. Give them a treat after each foot and they tend to be more compliant in the long run. If they start kicking hold on to the leg and don't give in ;)
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That's a good point about the foot shears plums. I like smaller foot shears as well, with no serrated edge. Like these ones....
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/myti-lite-ii-foot-rot-shears (http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/myti-lite-ii-foot-rot-shears)
Beth
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That's a good point about the foot shears plums. I like smaller foot shears as well, with no serrated edge. Like these ones....
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/myti-lite-ii-foot-rot-shears (http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/myti-lite-ii-foot-rot-shears)
Beth
I use something simular to those.
If you have the weather and they can get out it should soften the foot and make it easier to do , I find when ours have been in for a long time the feet dry out and go rock hard
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I use these too - http://www.homesteadfarmsupplies.co.uk/nettex-foot-shears-mytilite-offset-p-720.html (http://www.homesteadfarmsupplies.co.uk/nettex-foot-shears-mytilite-offset-p-720.html) - they are bent so easier to get to the difficult bits. Also, I found the straight ones pinched my hand if I wasn't careful
the only way is to put them out in a wet field for a couple of hours I've found! Especially now they've been in for 3 months and their feet are just like concrete
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Ah that makes sense. They have been in for a while so that's the problem. Been in and out this morning so once I have thawed out from riding I will have a go.
I got the myti lites and they are nice for my small hands. I find sometimes if the hoof gets too wet it just twists and won't cut. Must make the effort just to pick up feet most days and give a treat then hopefully won't be such an issue.
I could spend most of the day messing with them. Much more fun than going to work!
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Hi guys
I'm a farrier and we keep goats and sheep.I spend all day most days trimming feet,And have found Equine foal snips to be the best and cheapest long term if looked after.
The front feet.Tie up goat high enough to keep head of the floor.Pick up front right with left hand and cleen out with knife/hoofpick and clean both claws,Then use the snips on the inner claw to take down the inner part of the toe.Then the toe itself then the mid outer part ,then the outer heel.repeat on outer claw.
Hind feet .Stand behind the hind left and reach over and pick up the hind right , step under the right leg and place the goats leg over yourlower left leg supporting the foot with your left hand at the same time pressing it into your leg to give stabillity .The goat should stand happily all day long .then you can use the hand supprting the foot to guide the snips into place and the right hand to squeeze/operate the snips.Trim in the same way as the front right.Do the same on left feet and bobs your mothers brother.Once we get a bit of weather that allows me to ,i will make a short video tutorial and post on here if enough people are interested.
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Wow that's brilliant. Will need to print out instructions and have a go. Where does one get foal snips from?
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...don't suppose you are near Wiltshire for quick demo? Farriers make it look so easy. I have tried trimming pony hooves and its hard!
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We couldnt be further away.Banffshire between aberdeen and inverness.Google foal snips or any farriers suppliers.If the weather plays the game i will get a short vid sorted within a few weeks.The reason your farrier makes it look so simple is a 6 year apprenticeship.
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Lol. Yes and I don't envy him, I have two young Fells and one is a Bolshy sod. Posted a reply then read your plan to do video so look forward to it.
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:wave: :wave: :wave:
Where abouts in Wiltshire are you hun?
I could come show you how I do my guys if you like?
I could bring me tool kit with me :thumbsup:
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I would be very interested in seeing a video clip, thanks.
If you have help, having someone to hold one front leg up makes it harder for them to kick.
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Can't quite picture your advice for hind feet verdifish, I would appreciate a short video as well.
I just tie goat up, stand astride relevant leg, ('bum to bum' with goat) if they do kick (very rare now) my knees can hold leg firmly. If you keep letting the leg go they know they can get away with it, so will continue to play up, so hang on as much as possible, (unless they are crazy enough to throw themselves over, but unlikely).
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I am about 20 minutes east of Devizes if that helps MGM. If you aren't too far away I would love some tips and assistance. I am sure I make work hard for myself.
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I'm in Shropshire - miles away.
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Oops! Sorry MGM I jumped to wrong reply, it was Colliewoman who asked where I was.
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I did wonder why you asked. ;D
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Great help Verdifish although couldn't quite get the idea of foot resting on my leg and goats need me to lean against.
I would still like to see video if you can do it. My other question having done (or tried to do) back feet yesterday is how do I re-balance the foot so they aren't walking on heels? Their feet were very long when I got them and I doubt had been done for a long time. I have trimmed a couple of times but struggling to get back to a satisfactory shape.
How far can I pare back and what is the best tool to do it? I can't find the foal snips anywhere. Would it help if I took a pic of what mine are like?
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Scots girl Yeah a photo would help.A sharpe knife /Either a foot trimming knife or ive seen it done with a stanley knife. (but would advise caution) Don't expect the angle to be the same as that of a horse or pony.They will allways(should be ) lower in the heel But a photo would help.
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I've attached two different goats, back feet after I trimmed them. From underneath they look level with pad but when placed back on ground they still don't look right.
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Looking at the top picture you need to shorten the toe part, once you get the length right you can then reshape the foot
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You need to be more drastic with the trimming , those look like ours do before trimming. take more off the toes then work on the edges, don't be afraid of trimming the pad down , you can take it back until it starts to look a bit on the pink side , but not bleeding, then a quick spray espescially if there is a bit of shelly-hoof ( gap between horn and pad where dirt can accumulate)
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As Tiz said, we are new at this and willows hoof was just like the picture..bit at a time you'll soon get used to it :thumbsup:
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You should have seen them before I started! Will try again over next week depending on weather. They look quite good when held up but when I put foot down and look its like I haven't done anything. :rant:
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We were worried how much to cut back but supprised how much you can take off
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:-[ :-[
Forgot about this thread, sorry!
If I can get up there next week (should have a gap in the lambing/kidding) I can show you how I do it if you like?
I charge coffee and biscuits ;D
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You will be suprised how much you can still take off them ;)
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Thanks Colliewoman. I would actually really appreciate some experienced advice about my supposed milker. I still struggle to get milk out of her. She seems to like my dad and I get a bit more when he is fussing her!
Will get lots of biscuits in!
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Thanks Colliewoman. I would actually really appreciate some experienced advice about my supposed milker. I still struggle to get milk out of her. She seems to like my dad and I get a bit more when he is fussing her!
Will get lots of biscuits in!
Sing when you milk her. You can't hold your breath if you sing, and if you are tense you hold your breath. If you are tense she won't let her milk down :thumbsup:
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If she hears me sing the milk will be curdled! I will try breathing
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I have an old mobile phone I can play music on, pop it in my pocket and switch on a couple of minutes before milking, gives her warning to start letting the milk down and gets us both in the mood. (strauss is good for us :) ), Well, when we get into milking routine again.
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Cherry is a sod for holding her milk up , once her kids are off her if anyone else milks her they cant get more than a pint, I milk her and she goives me a pint, turns round and starts licking my face then drops the rest and i end up with around 6 pints off her morning and night ::)
I have the magic touch when I massage her udder :roflanim:
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What a tart! She's obviously a daddy's girl. :roflanim:
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What a tart! She's obviously a daddy's girl. :roflanim:
Belive me everyone else calls her a lot worse than that ::)